Postage meter



L. L. MACK POSTAGE METER March 3, 1936.

Filed July 16, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN TOR.

-W/ lv/ March 3, 1936. L. L. MACK 2,032,488

POSTAGEy METER l Filed July 16, '1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 L.. L, MACK POSTAGE METER March 3, 1936.

Filed July 16, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 I N VEN TOR.

6 Sheets-Sheet L.. L. MACK POSTAGE METER Filed July 16, 1930 w l JMW. N .5N .IIIV

IIIIIIIIIII March 3, 1936.

L. L, MACK POSTAGE METER March 3, 1936.

6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 16, 1930 NNN. -v M INVENTOR March 3, 1936. L, L, MACK 2,032,488

POSTAGE METER Filed July 1e, 1930 e sheets-sheet e Patented Mar. 3, 1936 y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE POSTAGE METER Luther L. Mack, South Pasadena, Calif., assignor to U. S. Postal Meter Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application July 16, 1930, Serial N0. 468,418 18 Claims. (Cl. 101-91) rIhis invention relates to postage meters, and Fig. 12 is a sectional elevation on line I2 l2 the main object is to provide a mechanism adaptof Fig. 2., ed to be set by the postal authorities to print a Fig. 13 iS a SeCtiOnal eleVatOn 0n line I3-I3 predetermined amount of postage and thereafter of Fig. 2. locked against unauthorized access, and par- Fig. 14 is a sectional elevation on line I4 I4 5 ticularly arranged with a plurality of printing of Fig. 2. dies of diierent denominations for selective op- Fig. 15 is a sectional elevation of the printing eration. member on line I I5 of Fig. 3.

Another object is to provide a rotatable print# Fg- 16 iS a SeCtiOIl 0f the meter hOllSilg 0n line ing member having a plurality of extensible Iii-I6 of Fig. 2. 10 printing dies of different denominations mounted Fig. 17 iS 2, DelSDeCtil/e VieW Of 2m intermittent thereon, together with means for rendering' said gear Ullit OI' Opefativeiy CODIleCtilg the Printing printing dies selectively operable. member with the registers of the meter.

A further object is to provide a dual register Fig. 18 iS 2 View 0f an impression made by the j.; including an ascending unit and a descending printing member on a piece of mail matter.

' unit for maintaining a total and balance record In the COYlSideletiOIl 0f this invention, attenof the impressions made by the machine, together tion is called to Letters Patent Nos. 1,527,365 and with means connected with the printing means 1,527,365. iSSued Feb 24, 1925, and Patent N0- whereby said registers will be simultaneously 1,796,296, elated Mai. 17 1930 2li Of Which relate 20 operable for deducting the amount of the postage to postage meters but are adapted t0 print only 2o printed in each operation from the descending a single denomination of stamp. register and for adding the same to the ascend- As shown particularly in Fig. 2 my present ing register. invention embodies a housing I With a base 2. Another object is to provide an automatic Said housing is covered at its rear end by means mechanism for feeding the mail matter directly of a detachable cover 3 and is provided with a 25 to and discharging the same from the printing forwardly extended meter housing 4 which is.

means. closed by means of a permanently affixed cover Other objects may appear as the description 5. The meter housing extends forwardly of a progresses. vertical partition 6 and connects with a rearward- I have shown a preferred form of my invenly extended sub-housing l enclosing a compart- 30 tion in the accompanying drawings, in which ment 8 against access, the compartment 8 be- Fig, 1 is a front elevation oi the assembled ing in communication with the meter compartmechanism. ment 9. The meter cover 5 is held in position on Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional elevation of the the meter housing 4 by means of a pair of screws 33 same on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. i2, i5 which extend into the housing d, and 35 Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the printing the heads of said screws are covered by means member on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. of plugs II, II which are incapable of removal,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevation on thereby preventing access to the screws. line 4 4 of Fig. 2. One side oi the meter housing 4 is provided Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional elevation on with a door I2 which is hinged Ona lug I3 ex- 40 line 5 5 of Fig. 2. tending outwardly from the partition 6. Cen- Fig. 6 is a sectional plan of line 6 6 of Fig. 5. trally of the meter housing and at the top there- Fig. '7 is a fragmentary sectional elevation on of I provide a lock Ill suitably secured in a reline 1 1 of Fig. 5. cess I5 of the cover 5 of the housing and pro- Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation on line 8 8 of vided with a key operated cylinder I6 which is 45 Fig. 5. connected with a barrel I1 rotatably held in'a Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a trip device bore I8. Said barrel has a recess I9 formed such as is shown in Fig. 5, cooperating with other therein which receives a tongue 20 on the door devices for rendering the printing member op- I2 for holding the door in locked position, as l 59 erative when a letter is advanced to the printing shown in Fig. 12. 50 means prior to a printing operation. The meter compartment 9 encloses a pair of Fig. 10 is a sectional plan of the machine on commonly operated register units 2| and 22, each line I0 I3 or" Fig. 2. of which embodies a plurality of discs 23, 23, etc.,

Fig. 1l is a sectional elevation on line II II of rotatable on shaft 24' and 25 respectively. The Fig. 2. unit 2| is of ascending series, While the unit 22 55 Cil ' of said screw and to the body of the lever.

opposite the door |2 is of descending series, and the arrangement of. said registers is in all respects substantially similar to the devices shown in my hereinabove described pending application for patent. 'Ihe unit `discs of the two registers are provided with driven gears 26 and 21 which mesh with acommon gear 28 on a shaft 29. The shafts 24, 25 and 29 are journaled in opposite portions 30 and 3| of a register supporting bracket 32 mounted in the meter compartment 9. Said bracket also supports other shafts 33 and 34 which carry sets of intermittent gear pinions 35, 35, etc., associated with the two registers so as to operate said registers speedometer fashion to a common extent at each operation of the machine.

One side of the meter housing 4 and also the door |2 above the registers 2| and 22 respectively, are provided with apertures 36 and 31 which are closed by means of transparent elements 38 for rendering the registers visible at the top of the meter.

Each of the discs 23 of the descending counter unit 22 is provided with a notch 39 adapted to be engaged by the free end 49 of the locking bar 4| which is fixed to a shaft 42 journaled in the opposite sides of the bracket 32. The notches 39 are so positioned on the discs 23 that when 0 on each of the discs is visible thru the aperture 31 the notches will be alined with each other and engaged by the portion 40 of the member 4| for preventing the further rotation of the counters until reset by authorized officials of the Post Office Department.

The descending register unit 22 may be suitably arranged Vso that the discs 23 may be set by authorized parties when the member 4| is disengaged therefrom so as to correspond to a predetermined number ofY impressions for which payment has been made to the Post Office. This feature is fully described in my said pending application for patent. Y

Mounted below the meter housing 9 on a transverse shaft 43 I provide a rotatable printing cylinder 44 which, as shown in Fig. 11, has a quartet of. upwardly extending arcuate ribs 45, 45, etc., which are spaced apart at their extremities to provide peripheral recesses 46, 45, etc. Forwardly of the register bracket and on the portion 39 thereof I provide a pair of levers 41 and 48 in the plane of the ribs 45 on the printing cylinder. The lever 41 is suitably xed to shaft 42 while lever 48 is pivotally on a screw 49 attached to the bracket 32. Levers `41 and 48 interlock as shown in Fig. 11, one of said levers being provided with a head 59 and the other with a recess 5| for receiving said head. Also one of said levers, preferably the lever 48, is provided with a depending lug 52 which, when the register is unlocked and in readiness for operation Will be held normally upwardly from the ribs 45, as shown in Fig. 11. This is effected by the interloclL'ng of levers 41 and 48 andthe rigid connection of lever 41 with member 4| thru the shaft 42. Lever 48 is urged downwardly by means of a spring 53 which is Wound around the body of screw .49 and has its opposite ends attached respectively to the head Thus when the machine is operated the head 49 of 4 member 4| will ride on the peripheries of the registerdiscs 23 and the lug 52 will be prevented from seating in one or the other of the recesses 46 on the printing cylinder.

Shaft 43 is journaled atv its rear end in a bearing 54 whichis formed on a skeleton frame member 55 attached at its base 56 to the base 2 of the frame and by means of a foot 51 to the rear wall 58 of the housing extension 1. The printing cylinder 44 includes a pair of laterally spaced members 59 and 69 which are suitably held together by means of screws 6|, 6|, etc., extending thru the member 69 and into tangentially disposed lugs 62, 92, etc., which are arranged at regular intervals around and are formed on the member 59. The printing cylinder 44 is provided with a plurality of radially extensible printing dies 63, 63, etc., which are slidably disposed between the members 59 and 69 and have ribs 64 and 65 on the outer sides thereof adapted to engage keyways 66 and 61 formed on the inner sides of members 59 and'69 respectively. Thus the printing dies 63 are guided in their radial movement on the members 59 and 69.

The printing dies have printing faces 68, 68, etc., which are engraved or formed as shown in Fig. 18 to print authorized indicia in lieu of stamps aihxed, as at 68. are arranged for selective operation and vary only as tothe denomination of the stamp indicia thereon. I have shown four of such dies in the drawings, which, for instance, may be arranged to show 1, 2, 4,01- and 5 denominations, or other denominations as may be desired. In order to render the printing dies selectively operable at will I provide means for selectively xing the printing cylinder to its shaft 43 at different points so that the printing dies may be properly positioned for imprinting indicia upon letters or cards which are fed to the printing means. I may accomplish this result by any one of a number Vof means, but I have shown a simple means in the drawings, particularly in Fig. 2.

The means shown includes a cap 19 which is fixed to the forward end of shaft 43 by means of a pin 1| or otherwise. Said cap has a single lug 12 projecting from the periphery thereof and adapted to selectively engage any one of a series of radially disposed notches 13 formed in a collar` 14 which encompasses the shaft 43. The number of the notches 13 corresponds to the number of the printing dies 83. The collar 14 has a recess 15 therein in which a coil spring 16 is mounted around the shaft 43 and is compressed between the inner end of cap 19 and the bottom 11 of the recess 15.

The collar 14 has a bored extension 18 which is journaled in a bearing 19 on the front wall 5 of the meter housing and said extension is adapted to receive a hollow extension 19 of the printing cylinder member 69. The collar 14 is keyed to the extension 19 so that the collar will rotate with the printing cylinder 14. The extension 19 carries a gear 89 which is fixed thereto and which meshes with a similar gear 8| above the shaft 43. Gear 8| is fixed to a short shaft 82 which is journaled in a bearing 83 on the meter housing and in a plate 84 attached to the meter cover 4 as shown in Figs. 2 and 11.

A hand crank 85 may be attached to an extended end of shaft 82 for manually operating the machine, thereby rotating the printing cylinder 44 and associated parts, as hereinafter described. The member 44 of the printing cylinder is provided with a cam 44 which has a boss 86 extending rearwardly thru the member 59. Said boss has a reduced portion 81 and a further reduced and threaded portion 88 which is screwed into a cap 89, and said cap is rotatably mounted in a bearing 98 held on the rear wall 58 of the meter compartment 8.

The portion 81 of boss 86 carries a composite- The printing dies 63- intermittent gear member 9| which is confined between the end of boss 86 and the cap 89. The gear 9| is tightly fixed to the boss 86 so that the gear will revolve with the printing member 44 at all times. The gear 9| is provided with several series of gear teeth, as at 92, 93, 94 and 95, which are correspondingly spaced apart and are adapted to be associated with the printing dies 63 respectively. The number of teeth in each series on the gear will correspond to the denomination of stamp on the associated printing die. For instance, as shown, two teeth on the gear will correspond to a 2 denomination of stamp, four teeth to a 4 stamp, etc.

The cam 44 is longitudinally slidable on the shaft 43 together with the gear 9| and the capr 89, and said cam is permanently xed to and for rotation with the shaft 43 by means of an elongated key-way 95 and a key 91 on the boss 86 and shaft 43 respectively. The cam 44 is normally held at its extreme right hand position, as shown in Fig. 2, by means of a spring 98 which compresses between the member 60 of the printing cylinder and the central portion of cam 44. The outer face of the cam has three p-airs of longitudinally projecting arcuately formed and spaced ribs 99, 99 etc. The inner and outer faces of said'extensions are concentric with the axis of the printing cylinder. The cam also has a single inwardly inclined extension 00. The pairs of extensions 99 and the single extension 00 are spaced apart uniformly, as shown in Fig. 3, and are alined respectively with the several succesT sive printing dies 63.

The printing dies 63, 63 etc. when inwardly extended to normal positions, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, are provided with pairs of arcuate grooves |0|, I0! corresponding in positions to the extensions 99, 99 on the cam and also with relatively central inwardly inclined grooves |02 corresponding in position and formto the single extension |00 on the cam. It will be noted that the inner extremities |03 of the inclined grooves |02 parallel the axis of shaft 43 so as to permit the inner faces of the extensions 99 to move thereover. Likewise the outer extremities of the straight grooves |0| are beveled to correspond to the outer face of the extension |00. This particular form of grooves and extensions permits the rotation of the printing members 63 relative to the cam 44 for the purpose of selectively rendering only one of the several printing members operative and prevents the extension of any of the dies during such operation.

The particular printing die 63 which is operatively associated with the single inclined extension |00 is the one which is operative while all of the other dies are inoperative, and moreover prevented from extension into operative positions f' when the operative die is extended for printing operation. Thus, as shown in Fig. 2, when the cam 44 is moved forwardly on shaft 43 against the tension of sp-ring 98 the straight extensions 99 on the cam will move into the correspondingly formed grooves |0| of the three inoperative dies, while the inclined extension |00 will move into the inclined groove |02 of the operative dieV and force said die outwardly into printing position.

On the rear end of shaft 43 I mount a gear |04 which has on its forward side an internal cam |05. Intermediate the gear and the rear wall 58 of the housing I provide a yoke |06 which is pivotally mounted at |01 on a bracket |08, said bracket being either attached to or formed on the housing 1. Said yoke has a lateral extension |09 which carries a follower roller l0 in engagement with the inner periphery of cam |05. The yoke also is provided with a bifurcated extension which straddles the shaft 43 and engages a. washer ||2 intermediate the yoke and the cap 89. The cam has a segment I|3 which is eccentric with respect to the remainder of the cam so that during each revolution of shaft 43 and cam |05 the yoke |06 will be swung on its axis so as to force the cam 44 forwardly into operativefengagement with the printing dies 63. As hereinbefore stated the shaft 43 may be rotated manually by means of the hand crank 85 or optionally by means of a drive pulley ||4 and a belt I5 arranged to be connected with a suitable source of power. The pulley l I4 is mounted on a counter-shaft H6 journaled in the frame 55 and also in the rear wall 58 of the housing and carries a pinion |1 which meshes with the gear |04.

Cooperating with the printing cylinder 44 I provide an impression roller ||8 having a frictional band thereon which at all times engages the peripheries of the members 59 and 50 and is adapted to hold the pieces of mail matter in contact with the printing dies 63. Said roller is mounted on a spindle ||9 journaled in the ends |20, |20 of the yoke |2| which is pivotally held on a sleeve |22 carried in a bearing |23 on the web 6 of the housing. Said yoke has a depending arm |21 which is connected at |28 with a rod |29 which is slidable in al boss |30 on the base 2 of the machine and is resiliently held in contact with the members 59 and 60 of the printing cylinder by means of a compression spring |3| carried on the rod |29, as shown in Fig. 1l. shaft ||9 is connected by means of a universal joint |32 with a short shaft |39 which is journaled in the frame 55 and carries a gear |34 which meshes with the main gear |04 by means of which motion is communicated to the impression roller.

Pieces of mail matter are adapted to befed successively to the printing cylinder by means of the` mechanism shown in Figs. l and l0. Said means includes a pair of parallel shafts |35 and |36 longitudinally spaced apart on the machine, as seen in Fig. l. The shaft |35 is journaled in thel frame 55 in a bearing |31 on the main housing and in an out-boardbearing |38 on a bracket |39 attached to the base 2. Said shaft carries a pair of laterally spaced pulleys |49 and |4| which are alined with similar pulleys |42 and |43 respectively on the shaft |35. The alined pulleys |49 and |42 and |4| and |43 are connected by means of resilient belts |44 and |45, whereby motion is communicated to the shaft |35.

The shaft |35 is driven by means of a gear |36 adjacent the frame 55 which meshes with an idler gear |53 loosely mounted on a rock shaft |53, and the idler gear in turn meshes with the gear |34 on shaft |33. Shaft |35 is driven from the shaft |35 by means of the belts |44 and |45. Intermediate the pulleys |40 and |4! on the main feed shaft |36 I provide a friction driven feeding Wheel |41 which includes a hub |48 loosely held on shaft |38 and a pair of laterally spaced iianges |49 fixed to the hub. The pulleys |40 and |4| being fixed to the shaft |35, motion is communicated to the feeding wheel |41 by means of a friction plate clutch |50, one of Which devices may be installed intermediate each of the pulleys |40 and |4| and the adjacent ends of the hub |48.

The hub |48 may beI bored at |5| to receive a compression spring |52 which encompasses the shaft |36 and holds the plates |50 in frictional contact.

The impression roller I Intermedia-te the feed pulleys |40 and |4| and theimpression roller H8 I provide a transverse rock shaft |53 which is journaled at its opposite ends in the frame 55 and the bracket |39, and intermediate said members is additionally journaled inthe sleeve |22 on the main housing. Said rock shaft carries a follower arm |54 fixed thereto which has a roller E55 on its free end adapted to engage the outer periphery of cam |05. Said cam is provided on its outer periphery with a raised segment |55 by means of which the shaft |53 is rocked in a clockwise direction, as seen in Fig. ll. Forwardly of the sleeve 22 the rock shaft is provided with an arm |57 which normally engages a shoulder |53 on the hub of the feed wheel |51 and prevents the rotation of the feed wheel during a major portion of a revolution of the cam |05. The arm l5?, however, is releasedfrom the feed wheel when the segment 53 of the cam engages the follower' roller |55 to permit a single revolution of the feed wheel at each operation of the machine.

The follower roller |55 is yieldably held in engagement with the cam |85 by means of a spring |59 connected at its opposite ends with the follower |54 and a lug E50 formed on the frame 55, as seen in Fig. 4. Y

Y Intermediate the shafts and |55 I provide a transversely disposed rock shaft I6! which is journaled in the bracket |39 and also ini an elongated bearing |62 on the main housing. Said rock shaft has fixed to the outer portion thereof intermediate the pulleys |42 and |43 an actuator finger |63 which has a curved upper extremity |64 normally disposed above the path of the mail matter and consequently above the periphery of the feed wheel |41.

t It may be understood at this point that the purpose of the actuator |63 is for insuring the extension of the operative printing die 63 outwardly to the printing circle in advance of the arrival of a piece of mail matter at the point of contact between the printing cylinder 44 and the impression roller |6. The cam |05 serves to extend the printing dies or rather one of the printing dies at each revolution of the printing member 44 just prior to the time the forward edge of the die reaches a point of engagement with a yieldable inking roller which is shown in Fig. 11.

Inasmuch as the actuator linger is operated by the engagement of the forward edges of the pieces of mail matter, if and when no piece of matter is being advanced to printing position, the printing dies will be retracted by reason of the contour of the cam face |05 prior to contact between the inking roller |65 and the printing die. If and when, however, a piece of matter depresses the finger |63 at the proper time the mechanism I am now about to describe in connection with said linger will retain the printing die in extended position until it has been inked by the roller |65 and further until it has passed the printing position.

To this end the bracket |08 which supports the yoke |06 is provided at its bottom with a latch |66 which is pivoted on a vertical axis and held in position by means of a screw |61. Said latch has an outer curved face |68 which, when the yoke has been actuated by cam |05, is adapted to move under a depending lug |63 on the yoke and hold the yoke and cam 44' in extended position, the follower roller 0 being, in such case, held out of engagement with the cam |05.

The latch |66 is pivotally connected at |10 with a longitudinally extended bar |1| and said bar has an elongated slot |12 in its outer ,end which is engaged by a depending notched portion |13 of a bracket |14, as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 8. Said bracket has an upwardly turned end |15 which is adjustably held on the face of a yoke V bracket |08 and serves to support the bar |1| in such a manner that the right hand end thereof, as seen in Fig. 5, may be slightly elevated and yet supported'on the portion |13 of the bracket.

The actuator rock shaft |6| carries a pair of collars |16 and |11 which are spaced apart on and are fixed to the shaft. The collar |11 has a lug |18 thereon which engages a lug |19 on the bearing |62 for limiting the movement of the collar in a clockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 5. The collar |16 has an arm |80 which is tensioned on the bracket |14 by means of a spring |8|. Intermediate the collars |16 and |11 I provide an arm |82 which is loosely mounted on the shaft |6| and the upper end of said arm is adapted to engage the end of the bar |1|. The collar |16 has a lug |83 thereon which engages the arm |82 for normally urging said arm in a clockwise direction to a normal position, as shown in Fig. 5. The arm |82 is differentially yieldable on the shaft |6| relative to the collar |16 by means of a. coil spring |84 which has one end engaged with the lug |18 on collar |11 and its other end overlying the edge of arm |82.

The rock shaft |53 carries an arm |85 which is connected with the bar |1| by means of a tension spring |86, said spring connection being such that it will tend to urge the bar |1| to the right and also downwardly, as seen in Fig. 5. I

The mechanism is so timed that just following the extension of the printing die 63 by the cam |05, the advance of a piece of mail matter into the machine will depress the actuating linger |63 and thus rook shaft |6| in a counter-clockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 5, thereby rocking arm |82, and forcing the bar |1| to the left. The movement to the left of the bar |1| moves the latch |66 under the lug |69 of the yoke |06, thus serving to hold the cam 44' and the printing members 63 in extended position. A very slight movement of arm 82 and bar |1| will permit the arm to slide under the end of bar |1| andthe tension of spring |86 then tends to restore the bar |1| to its normal position. Such movement of the bar is prevented, however, by reason of the friction of the yoke |06 on the latch |66, and the printing die will be held in extended position until the completion of the printing operation.

If perchance the printing operation is not completed when the rear end of a piece of mail matter has advanced beyond the finger |63, the restoration of the finger by reason of the tension of the spring |8| will also restore the arm |82 to normal position, even tho the bar |1| is held up for a further period.

In order to insure the locking of the bar |1| against retraction when a letter is advanced to printing position and if the friction of the yoke |06 on the latch |66 is insuflicient, or should the pressure thereon be relieved, I provide the arm |85 with a spring held pawl |81 which, when the bar |1| is moved forwardly, will engage the left hand end of they slot |12 in therbar and prevent the restoration of said bar. This pawl is so arranged that when the arm |82 is restored prior to the restoration of the bar |1|, said bar may be elevated and disengaged from the pawl |81, for under such conditions the printing operation would be in progress and the bar could not possibly be retracted until such operation was completed.

The machine is provided, as shown in Fig. 1, with a feed hopper |88 which is suitably attached to the left hand side of the machine and provides a bed for the receipt of the mail matter. The feed hopper |88 is provided with a yieldable frictional separating member |89 which is mounted on an end |90 of the hopper. Said member is disposed between the flanges |49, |49 of the feed wheel 41 and is adjustable relative thereto so that it will exert friction on all but the lowermost letter in a stack for preventing the advance of such letters into the grip of the machine.

Above the belts |44 and |45 I provide a pair of idler rollers ISI, |9| which are mounted on a bracket |92 pivotally supported at |93 on the web 6 of the machine and yieldable relative to said belts. Said rollers are yieldably held in engagement with the belts |44 and |45 by means of a spring |93 which is carried on the screw |93 and is tensioned so as to urge the bracket |92 and the associated rollers downwardly.

As described in my said pending application, I provide flanges |49 of the feed wheel with peripheral recesses |94 which are transversely alined and serve to form seats for the forward edges of the letters or cards so that the lowermost letter of a stack will always seat in said notches preparatory to advancement to printing positiony when the wheel |41 is released for clockwise rotation, as seen in Fig. 11.

Now reverting to the connection between the register units 2| and 22 and the printing member 44, reference is made to Figs. 13, 14, 16 and 17 and also to Fig. 2. 'I'he member 59 of the printing cylinder is provided with a rearwardly extended hub |95 which telescopes the hub 86 of cam 44. 'Ihe hub |95 is provided with a plurality of helical threads |96 on its outer periphery which engage a collar |91. Said collar is nonrotatable by reason of a plurality of pins |98 which are fixed to the gear member 9| and are adjustable in bores of the collar. The threads |96 have a, long lead so that the printing cylinder 44 may be adjusted to four different positions on the shaft 43 with the movement of the collar |91 to the full length of the hub |95. The register operating shaft l29 carries a gear |98 thereon which constantly meshes with a pinion |99 on a counter-shaft 200. The gears |98 and |99 have elongated hubs 20| and 202 respectively which are provided with annular grooves on their forward ends and the collar 91 is also similarly provided with an annular groove, which grooves are adapted to be engaged by a yoke 203 as shown in Fig. 14 so that the longitudinal movement of the collar |91 and gears 98 and |99 will be moved to a corresponding extent when the printing cylinder is adjusted for printing stamps of different denominations.

'Ihe yoke 203 carries a detent 204 which is pivoted thereon at 205 and is tensioned by means of a spring 206 so that the free end 201 thereof will engage the not-ches in a star wheel 208 on the hub 20| of gear |98 for preventing the rotation of gears |98 and |99 to more than a predetermined extent of movement. The composite gear 9| is adapted to selectively mesh with the pinion |99 during a portion of a revolution of the gear 9|. The width of the pinion |99 is slightly less than the space between the several series of gear teeth on the composite gear.

As shown, for instance, in Fig. 2, the mechanism is set to print a stamp of the lowest possible denomination with the type of mechanism illustrated, viz: a 1 stamp, The gear |98, for instance, has twenty teeth, and gear 9| is of the same nominal pitch diameter as gear |98. Thus the series 92 of gear teeth on the gear 9| comprising but two teeth will, when the cam 44' is extended by the yoke |06, aline the teeth 92 with the pinion |99, and when the printing die 63 for the 1 denomination has been extended by the movement of cam 44 the teeth 92 will engage and rotate the pinion |99 and the gear |93 for a distance equal to twice the circular pitch of the gears. of a revolution and would register 1 on the two register units 2| and 22 each time the gears are so operated.

When a 2e stamp is to be printed, the setting knob 14 is pulled outwardly against the tension of spring 16 so as to disengage it from the cap 10, and the printing cylinder 44 is then rotated on its shaft 49 until the knob 14 registers with the 2 aperture of slot 13 on the member 14. 'Ihis movement of the printing cylinder 44 will effect the longitudinal movement of collar 91 and gears |98 and |99 rearwardly until the pinion 99 occupies a plane between the series of teeth 92 and 93 on gear 9|. Thereafter at each time a printing operation is effected the teeth 93 will engage the pinion, and there being four teeth in this series the gear 98 will be rotated for one-fifth of a revolution and will register 2 on the registers. Likewise as the collar |91 is adjusted further rearwardly a 3 or a 4 stamp may be printed by operatively positioning the pinion 99 between the teeth 93 and 94 and between the teeth 94 and 95 respectively.

The rotation of the printing cylinder in a This will be to the extent of one-tenth clockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 1, for but a fraction of a revolution is prevented by means of a spring held detent 209 pivoted at 210 to the meter cover 5 and adapted to engage a ratchet 2|| with a plurality of regularly spaced teeth thereon formed on the gear 80.

Each of the printing dies 63 detachably supports a dater unit 2|2 thereon which may be detachably held in position by means of a spring 2|3 or otherwise. Said dater is adapted to print the indicia shown at 214 in Fig. 18 including the name of the city and state, the month, day of the month, and the year.

In operation, when the printing cylinder has been set as hereinbefore described to print a given denomination of stamps a stack of letters are deposited in the feed hopper |88 and power is applied to the machine. The letters will be fed successively in single le to printing position by means of the belts |44 and |45 and the associated rollers |9|. the advance of the successive letters to printing position and the movement of the letters over the finger |63 renders the printing die 63 operative for imprinting the authorized indicia 69 on the letters.

The gear 9| is adjusted so that it will successively register each impression on the two counter units, but when and if a letter fails to immediately follow another to printing position the printing die will be retracted before incoming position is reached and the registers will not be operated.

As hereinbefore stated, the meter is set vby authorized oflicials of the Post Office for a predetermined number of impressions and is then locked and sealed against unauthorized access. When the authorized impressions have been exhausted, as shown by the meter, the register units are locked against further operation and The feed wheel |41 times.

Vlectively rendering certain of said printing dies the printing cylinder is also locked so that no more impressions may be printed until the meter has been reset.

What I claim is:

l. A postage meter comprising in combination With means for feeding mail matter to printing position, a rotatable printing member having a plurality of printing dies of different denominations arranged at different points about Ythe axis of said printing member, means for seina Vprinting operation while the other dies are inoperative, at will, means preventing the operation of said operative die during the rotation of said printing member except when pieces of matter are advanced to printing position, and

Van impression member cooperating with said printing member 'whereby to imprint upon and move mail matter from printing position.

2. In'a postage meter the combination with a rotatable printing member, an impression member associated therewith, and means for feeding mail matter into position between said printing member and said impression member, of a plurality of printing dies circumierentially spaced apart on the'printing member, manually operable means for selectively rendering one oi said printing dies capable of successive printing operations-while the other dies are incapable of printing operations during the rotation of said printing member, said operative die being manually retracted from printing position and extensible to printing position only when mail matter is advanced to the printing means.

3. A postage meter comprising in combination with a rotatable printing member and an impression member associated therewith, of means for feeding successive pieces of mail matter into positions between said printing member and said impression member, a plurality of printing dies extensively mounted on said printing member, means for rendering one of said printing dies operative at will for successive printing operations while the remaining dies are locked against operation, said operative die being normally retracted from printing position, and means automatically effective during the rotation of said printing cylinder for extending the operative printing die to printing position for engagement with the mail matter.

4. A postage meter having a rotatable printing head, a plurality of printing dies thereon or"V different denominations, said dies arranged circumferentially on the printing head, means for rendering one of said dies operative while the remaining dies are held inoperative, means automatically operable at each revolution of said head for rendering the operative printing die effective for printing when a piece of mail matter is moved by the printing means and ineffective when no piece of mail matter is so moved, and a rotatable impression member adjacent said printing member as and ior the purpose described.

5. A postage meter having a rotary printing head, a plurality of printing dies of different denominations circumferentially spaced apart on said head, means for advancing successive pieces of mail matter to and from printing position at regular intervals including a rotary impression member, means for selectively rendering one of said printing dies operative and the remaining dies inoperative at will, and means controlled by the advance of the mail matter to printing position for rendering the operative printing die effective for printing postage indicia thereon.

6. A postage meter comprising a rotatable printing head, a plurality of printing dies of dif-- ferent denominations circumferentially arranged on said head, means for extensively supporting said printing dies, means for selectively rendering one of said dies operative for printing operations and for locking the remaining dies retracted from printing position, means for advancing successive pieces of mail matter to and from printing position, and means controlled by the advance of the mail matter torprinting position for extending the operative die to printing position at a given point in each revolution of said head.

7. A postage meter comprising a rotatable printing head, a plurality of printing dies of different denominations circumferentially arranged and radially slidable thereon to and from operative positions, means for selectively unlocking and extending one of said dies to operative position and for locking the remaining -dies in inoperative position, means for advancing successive pieces of mail matter to and from printing position, and means controlled by the advance of the mail matter to printing position for rendering the operative printing die effective for printing postal indicia 0n the mail matter.

8. A postage meter comprising a rotatable printing head, a plurality of printing dies of different denominations circumferentially arranged and radially slidable thereon, means for permitting the extension of one of said dies to printing position and for holding the remaining dies retracted during the rotation of said head, said operative die being normally retracted from printing position, and means for automatically extending the operative printing die at the same point in each revolution of the printing head for successive printing operations.

9. A postage meter comprising a rotary printing head, a plurality of printing dies of different denominations successively arranged and concentrically positioned thereon, means for holding certain of said dies retracted inwardly of the periphery of said head and for permitting the extension of other of said dies outwardly of the Yperiphery thereof, said operative die being normally Yretracted from printing position, and means automatically operable at a given po-int in each revolution of said head for extending the operative printing die to printing position for the purpose of printing authorized postal indicia on matter advanced by the printing head.

10. A postage meter comprising in combination, means for feeding mail matter to printing` position, a rotatable printing member having its periphery disposed adjacent the path of the mail matter, a spindle for rotatably supporting said printing member, a plurality of printing dies of different denominations extensibly mounted on said printing member and adjustable to and from different points on the periphery ofY the printing member, means for selectively connecting the printing member with the spindle for renderingY one of said printing dies operative at the same point in the revolution of the spindle, and means controlled by the movement of the mail matter to printing position for extending the operative die to printing position on the printing member, and simultaneously locking the inoperative dies in retracted position.

11. A postage meter as characterized in claim 10, including a manually operable member associated with said printing member and said `spindle for adjusting the printing member relative to the spindle when one die is operative and other dies are inoperative.

12. A postage meter as characterized in claim 10, including a manually operable member associated with said printing member and said spindle for adjusting the printing member relative to the spindle When one die is operative and other dies are inoperative, and means for visibly indicating the operative die.

13. A postage meter comprising in combination with means for feeding mail matter to printing position, a rotatable printing member having a plurality of printing dies of diiierent denominations arranged at different points about the axis of said printing member, a sleeve coaxially mounted With respect to the printing member and operatively engaging said dies, a cam on said sleeve engaging said dies, means controlled by the movement of mail matter to printing position for reciprocating said sleeve and said cam for simultaneously extending one of said dies to printing position and locking the inoperative dies against extension, and means for manually and selectively rendering said dies operative and inoperative at Will.

14. A postage meter comprising in combination With means for feeding mail matter to printing position, a rotatable printing member having a plurality of printing dies of different denominations arranged at different points about the axis of said printing member, a sleeve coaxially mounted with respect to the printing member and operatively engaging said dies, a cam on said sleeve engaging said dies, means controlled by the movement of mail matter to printing position for reciprocating said sleeve and said cam for simultaneously extending one of said dies to printing position and locking the inoperative dies against extension, a spindle for rotatably supporting said printing member and coaxially mounted relative to said sleeve and said printing member, and means for adjusting the printing member on said spindle to render certain of said dies operative and certain other dies inoperative at will.

15. A postage meter comprising in combination With means for feeding mail matter to printing position, a rotatable printing member having a plurality of printing dies of diierent denominations arranged at different points about the axis of said printing member, a sleeve coaxially mounted With respect to the printing member and operatively engaging said dies, a cam on said sleeve engaging said dies, means controlled by the movement of mail matter to printing position for reciprocating said sleeve and said cam and for extending one of said dies to printing position, said cam being effective for locking the inoperative dies against extension, a spindle for rotatably supporting said printing member and coaxially mounted relative to said sleeve and said printing member, means for adjusting the printing member on said spindle to render certain of said die operative and certain other dies inoperative at Will, and means for visibly indicating the operative die.

16. A postage meter comprising in combination With means for feeding successive pieces of mail matter to printing position, a power operated mechanism, a spindle connected with said power operated mechanism, a rotatable printing member supported on and adjustable to different positions on said spindle, a housing enclosing said printing member against unauthorized access, a plurality of printing dies of different denominations extensibly mounted on said printing member, means controlled by the movement of mail matter to printing position for extending said dies to operative position on the printing member, and means externally of said housing and connected with said spindle and With said printing member for adjusting the printing member on the spindle for rendering a given die operative and for simultaneously rendering the remaining dies inoperative at Will.

17. A postage meter comprising in combination With means for feeding mail matter to printing position including an impression member, a rotatable printing member having a plurality of printing dies of different denominations arranged at different points about the axis of said printing member, means for enclosing said printing member and said dies against unauthorized access, means for selectively rendering one of said printing dies operative and other of the dies inoperative at will, and means preventing the operation of said operative die during the rotation of said printing member except when pieces of matter are advanced to printing position.

18. A postage meter comprising in combination with means for feeding mail matter to printing position including an impression member, a rotatable printing member having a plurality of printing dies of diiierent denominations arranged at different points about the axis of said printing member, means for enclosing said printing member and said dies against unauthorized access, means for selectively rendering one of said printing dies operative and other of the dies inoperative at will, means preventing the operation of said operative die during the rotation of said printing member except when pieces of matter are advanced to printing position, and means accessible to an operator for adjusting said printing member to render a selected die operative and the remaining dies inoperative at will.

LUTHER L. MACK. 

